Journal box construction for railway cars



April 5, 1966 T. J. swEGER JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1964 April 5, 1966 T. J. swEGER JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1964 3,244,461 JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS `Theodore J. Sweger, Naperville, Ill., assigner to Illinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois v Filed Mar. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 351,026 13 Claims. (Cl. 308-40) This invention relates, generally, to railway car journal boxes and it has particular relation to axle journal guides therefor. It constitutes an improvement over the con- 'struction shown in appli-cation Serial No. 325,887, tiled November 26, 1963.

Among "the objects of this invention are: To arrange land construct the spring wire frame holding journal lguides between diametrically opposite sides of an axle journal and the adjacent side walls of a journal box in such manner that the assembly can be readily inserted in the journal box or removed therefrom with the axle journal remaining therein; to form the rear section of the spring wire frame with 180 bends providing bights for engaging a dust guard Wall and with a central portion extending parallel to the dust guard wall and a plane lcontaining the sides of the journal brassstop columns facing the dust guardrwall; to form each journal guide with a bearing section and a support between which portions of the spring wire frame extend for holding the journal guides in operative position in the journal box and on opposite sides to the axle journal; to provide the bearing section with deformable extensions projecting through openings in the support and headed over to form therewith a unitary construction;` to, form an inverted -Tshaped groove betweenthe bearing section and the support for receiving the. inverted T-shaped ends of the front and rear sections of the spring wire frame; to form the inverted T-shaped groove entirely in the support; to

extend the end portions of the front and rear sections of the spring wire frame beyond the upper end of the respective stem. of the groove and away from the axle journal into underlying relation with the lower curved end of the journal brass stop -column on the adjacent side wall of the journal box; and to construct the support and bearing section forming each journal guide in a generally j truncated pyramidal conliguration.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 1 1 of FIG. 3 and showing both sides of the journal'box and omitting the adjusting shim.

FIG. 2 is .a vertical sectional view taken generally "along the lineZ-Z of FIG. 1, the axle, journal brass and wedge being shown in broken line outline in order to depict more clearly the details of construction of the one piece spring wire frame which supports the journal guides.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally I along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view,.in.front elevation, of the bearing section which. forms a part of the journal guide and is f arranged to be mounted on the support shown in FIGS.

4-7. FIG. 9 is a top plan View of the bearing section shown 7 in FIG. 8.

United States Patent O ICC FIG. 10 is a view, in end elevation, of the bearing section shown in FIG. 8.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a railway car axle which, in FIGS. 2 and 3, is shown in broken line outline in order to illustrate more clearly the details of construction of the journal guides and support therefor. The railway car axle 1t) includes an axle journal 11 provided with an end collar 12 and itis arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation or its longitudinal axis which is indicated at 13. The axle journal 11 is mounted within a railway car journal box, indicated generally at 14, which is of conventional construction. The railway car journal box 14 includes a horizontal top wall 15 from which vertical side walls 16 16 depend. They are interconnected at their lower ends by a bottom wall 17 which has a concave inner surface 1S. This may be a -cylindrical surface. The concave inner surface 18 of the bottom wall 17 terminates at its forward end, FIG. 2, in a concave inner surface 19 on the inner side of an end wall 20 which is located below a lid opening 21 (the lid'not being shown). The -rear end of the concave inner surface 18 of the bottom wall 17 terminates in a vertical wall 22 of a dust guard well 23 which is completedV by a vertical wall 24. Formed integrally with the depending vertical side walls 16-16 are journal brass stop columns 25 2,5 having concave surfaces 26 26 at their lower ends. The journal brass stop columns 25 25 serve 0 distant from its center.

'l to guide ends 27 27 of a journal brass or bearing 28 which is arranged to engage the surface of the axle journal 11. The journal brass or bearing 28 is surmounted by a wedge 29 which, together with the journal brass or bearing 28, is held in position by a wedge stop 30 that depends `from the under surface of the top wall 15 adjacent the lid opening 21.

With a viewk to limiting the relative movement of the axle journal 11 and the railway car journal box 14 when the railway car is accelerating or decelerating, journal guides 33 33 are provided. The journal guides 33 33 are positioned between the inner sides 16 16 of the journal box 14 and diametrically opposite sides of the axle journal 11 symmetrically with respect to a horizontal plane through the longitudinal axis 13. Preferably the journal guides 33 33 are of identical generally truncated pyramidal configuration. They are mounted in a manner to be described such that they are held in operative position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings in such manner that they can be readily nserted in the railway car journal box 14 or removed therefrom with the axle journal 11 therein. In order to apply or remove the journal guides 33 .33 the journal box 14 is jacked upwardly to permit removal of the wedge 29 and journal brass or bearing 28.

Each of the journal guides 33 includes a bearing section that is indicated, generally, at 34 in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings. The bearing section 34 is formed of zinc with small amounts of manganese, aluminum and silicon. The bearing section 34 has a planar front face 35 which is located, as shown in FIG. l, in a vertical plane in spaced relation to the surface of the axle journal 11. The bearing section 34 is oblong in conguration and tapers outwardly from the front face 35. It has semi-circular ends 36-36 and a planar r-ear face 37 from which tapered deformable extensions 38-38 project. Preferably the extensions 38 38 are-located substantially. equidistant from the ends of the bearing section 34 and equi- Also they are located along the longitudinal axis thereof.

Each bearing section 34 is arranged to be mounted on a support that is shown, generally, at 41 in FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive. The support 41 preferably is formed of drop forged steel, is oblong in configuration, and has a planar front face 42 from which the outer surface tapers outwardly. The bearing section 34 in operative position has its planar rear face 37 juxtaposed to the .planar front face 42 of the support y4.1. When .thus assembled they form the truncated py-ramidal configuration above referred to. Openings 43-43 .are provided through the support 41 for receiving the extensions 3838 from the :bearing section 34. lecesses 44-44 are provided in communication with the openings 43-43 in which the lextensions ,3S-38 can be 'hea-ded overas indicated at L15-45 ,in FGS. 1 and 3 vof the drawings. 'l' he support 41 has .afrear face 46 the upper port-ion of which is curve-d to conform tothe curvature -of the surfaces 26-26 at the 'lower ends of the journal brass stop columns 25-25.

Depending upon the diameter of the axle journal 11, the journal guides 33-33 can be employed, as s-hown 1n FIG. 1. Alternatively, when the diameter of the axle journal 11 -is somewhat reduced, it is desirable to -space the ljournal guides 33--33 slightly from the inner surfaces Aof the vertical sides 1.6-1.6 of the journal box 14. For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. V2 and 3, .a shim 47 is provided, one for each journal `guide '33. The shim 47 is inserted between the rear face d6 yof the support 41 yand the .adjacent surface of the -vertical sides 16. It is generally rectangular in conguration and conforms to the contiguration of the rear face 46 of the support 41. Ears 48, located Iat lthe corners of the shim 47, are arranged to be deformed against the face of the support 41. If -it is unnecessary to use the shims 47 because of the diameter -of the axle journal n11, they can be removed readily.

With `a view to mounting each journal guide .33 in operative position as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 .an inverted T-shaped groove is :provided between the bearing section 34 vand `the support 4.1. The T-shaped groove, in the embodiment shown, is formed `in the support 41 and .comprises a horizontally extending bar .portion 49 .and an upwardly extending stem portion 511 the width of which vis twice that of .the bar ,portion 49.. While the T-:shaped groove formed lby the bar portion 49 `and stem portion .50 is shown as being provided in the planar front face 42 of the support `41, it will 4'be understood that such a .groove can be formed in the planar rear face 37 ,of the bearing section 34 or it can be formed partly in the support 41 and kpartly Vin .the bearing section 34. The particular location of the inverted T-,shaped groove depends, in part, on the required thickness .of the bearing section .34. `It can have maximum thickness, as show-n, if the inverted T-shaped groove 4is formed wholly in the support 41.

For holding the .journal guides 33-33 in operative position in the railway car journal box 14 a unitary spring wire frame, shown ygenerally at 53, is provided. It includes a front section, shown generally lat '54, .and a rear section, shown generally .at .55. The front section 54 has a central portion'56 which extends from the journal .guides 33--33 downwardly andforwardly and conforms generally in ,curvature `to the curvature of the inner surface 18 of the bott-om wall 17. The rear section .55 has a central portion 57 which is located .generally parallel yto and spaced forwardly from the vertical wall 22 and adjacent a vertical plane in which are located the wal-ls 58 of the journal lbrass stop columns 25-25 that face .the vertical wall 22. The central portion 57 4is located in the position described by providing a 180 bend `59 in the rear section 55 having lower and upper arms 611 `and 61 that extend parallel to each other land .adjacent the respective Isides 16-16 of the journal box 14. The bight .62 formed by this conguration is arranged to bear `against the outer rside of the vertical wall 22 .of the dust guard well V23 and thus serves vto limit the inward ,movement of the journal guides 253-433 and to hold them against further inward movement in the railway car journal .box 14. The front and rear sections 54 and 55 of the unitary spring wire frame 53 are provided with inwardly extending portions 64 and 65 from which lateral portions 66 and v67 extend into the bar portion 49 of the inverted T-shaped groove that is formed in the support 41 on each side of the axle journal 11. vUpstanding end portions `68 and 69 from the juxtaposed ends of the lateral portions 66 and 67 extend through Ithe stem portion 5t) of lthe Ainverted Tashaped groove in each support 41. The terminal portions 70 and 71 of 4theend portions 68 and .69, as shown in FIG. l, extend outwardly in underlying relation to the concave surfaces ,26--26 at :the lower -ends .of the :journal 'brass stop columns 25-25- In this position-these terminal end portions 711-70 in lcooperation with the con-cave surfaces 26--26 limit upward movement of the journal Iguides 33-33.

A posi-tion tag 172 -is located .on the center of -t-he central portion "56 kof the yfront section 54 in 4order to indicate that, in the assembled position, it Yis rto be located inthe front portion of lthe railway .car journal box 14.

' In sorder to assemble the unitary spring wire frame 53 with the journal guides 33-33, the yupstanding end portions y68 and 69 are located in the stern Iportion Sil of the inverted T-shaped grooves in the supports 41. Then the bearing sections .34 are applied with the .deformable extensions 38-38 extending in telescoped relation through Athe .openings l413-413. Thereafter the .portions of .the extensions3$2 8 in the recesses 44-44 of the supports 41 are headed over, as indicated at 45-45. Not only does this provide a unitary ,construction for the spring wire frame 53, since the ends thereof are secu-rely clamped between the supports 41 .a-nd the Vbearing sections 34 of the journal ,guides 3S-33 but also the ,journal guides 33-433 themselves are securely .clamped in position. At the same time a relatively large 'bearing surface is provided by the planar front Vfaces '35 of the 'bearing sections 34 on diametrically .opposite sides of .the `axle journal 11.

What is claimed 'as new is:

1. VIn combination:

(a) .a railway car journal `box having a ybottom wall yinterconnecting its side walls from which journal brass stop columns extend toward each other, a dust `guard Wall at its inner end, andan axle journal spaced from said side walls,

(b`) vjournal guide means on diametrically opposite sides of said axle journal between it and the .respective side wall, .and

(c) a unitary spring wire frame supporting said journal guide .means in operative position in said `journal box including:

(l) front and rear sections engaging said bottom wall,

(.2) lateral portions between the upper ends -of said front and rear sections supporting ,said journal `guide means, .and

.(3) shoulder portions formed .by l180" bends interconnecting sai-d ,rear section and the lateral portions individual thereto With ,the bights reacting against said ,dust guard wall,

(4) the central portion of said rear section being 4spaced outwardly ,from said Vdust guard lwall.

2. The invention, as set forth in .claim 1, -wherein the central portion Aof the rear .section .of the unitary spring wire frame is generally .parallel tothe .dust .guard wall and juxtaposed .to a plane containing the sides of the brass stop columns facing said Vclust guard wall.

,3. `In combination:

(a) a railway car journal box ,and an axle journal therein between lthe .side walls thereof,

(b) journal guide means on diametrically opposite sides of said .axle journal lbetween it and the respective side wall .eac/l1 including:

(l) a bearing section carrying a front face juxtaposed to said axle journal and 'having on the opposite face at least one deformableextension, and

8. The invention, as set forth in claim 5, wherein a shim is interposed between each support and the juxtaposed side wall of the journal box.

9. The invention, as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

(c) a unitary spring wire frame having portions ex- 5 (a) each journal guide means is of generally truncated tending between the bearing sections and the suppyramidal configuration,

ports of said journal guide means for holding them (b) the support is generally oblong,

in operative position in said journal box. (c) the ends of the bearing section are semi-circular, 4. The invention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (d) the deformable extensions are located along the (a) each bearing section has two deformable exten- 10 longitudinal axis of the bearing section equidistant sions telescoped with the respective support, and (b) the portions of the spring wire frame extend through each journal guide means between the two extensi-ons of the bearing sections. 5. In combination:

from its ends and center, and

(e) the side of the support facing the adjacent side wall of the journal box is recessed to receive the deformed portions of said extensions.

10. Journal guide means for positioning between a side (a) a railway car journal box and an axle journal therein between the side walls thereof, (b) journal guide means on diametrically opposite wall of a journal box and an axle journal and arranged to be held in operative position by end portions of a spring wire frame arranged in inverted T-shape comprising:

sides of said axle journal between it and the respec- (a) a bearing section carrying a front face for juxtative side wall each including: 20 position to said axle journal and having a pair of (1) a bearing Section carrying a front face nXil' deformable extensions on the opposite side, and

posed to Said axle journal and having 0n the (b) a support for said bearing section having aperoPPoSiie fece et leest one deformable eXtentures for receiving said deformable extensions, a rear Sion, and face for reacting against said side wall and recessed (2) a Support carrying a rear face reacting agninSt 25 to receive the deformed portions of said extensions, the respective Side Weil and telescopen over Said and a front face juxtaposed to the rear face of said extension which is deformed t-o provide With bearing Section, Said bearing Sec'fion e'nniinry construction, (c) there being an inverted T-shaped groove between (3) there being a Wire receiving groove between said bearing section and said support for receiving said bearing section and said support; and 30 said end portions of Said spring Wire frame (c) a unitary spring wire frame having portions extending into the grooves between the bearing sections and the respective supports Ifor holding said journal guide means in operative position in said 11. The invention, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the inverted T-shaped groove is located in the front face of the support.

12. The invention, as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

6 J-F'illlrn'flivig-on as Set forth in claim 5 Wherein 35 (a) the joui-nal guide means is of generally truncated e m 1 r ramida c-on guration (a) each bearing section has two .deformable exten- (blythe Support is generaly Oblong sums teleseoped Wlth the, respectlve Support f (c) the ends of the bearing section are semi-circular, (b) the groove 1s located 1n each support and 1s o 40 and inverted T-shape, and

(c) end portions of front and rear sections of the spring wire frame extend through the ends of the bar portions of each T-shape and commonly through (d) the deformable extensions are located along the longitudinal axis of the bearing section equidistant from its ends and center.

13. The invention, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the stem portion of each T-shape.

7. The invention, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the terminal portions of the front and rear sections of the spring Wire frame extend beyond the upper end of the respective stern portion of the groove in the support and away from the axle journal into underlying relation with a journal brass stop column on the adjacent side wall of the journal box.

4 the inverted T-shaped groove is located in the front face of the support between the extensions from the bearing section.

No references cited.

5 DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: (A) A RAILWAY CAR JOURNAL BOX HAVING A BOTTOM WALL INTERCONNECTING ITS SIDE WALLS FROM WHICH JOURNAL BRASS STOP COLUMNS EXTEND TOWARD EACH OTHER, A DUST GUARD WALL AT ITS INNER END, AND AN EXLE JOURNAL SPACED FROM SAID SIDE WALLS, (B) JOURNAL GUIDE MEANS ON DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID AXLE JOURNAL BETWEEN IT AND THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL, AND (C) A UNITARY SPRING WIRE FRAME SUPPORTING SAID JOURNAL GUIDE MEANS IN OPERATIVE POSITION IN SAID JOURNAL BOX INCLUDING: 